Acyltransferases and methods of using

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are novel acyltransferases and methods of using such novel acyltransferases in making medium-chain fatty acids.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Application No. 61/917,587 filed Dec. 18, 2013. The entirety of the prior application is incorporated by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with government support under DE-SC0001295, 2009-05988, and IOS 0701919 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Science Foundation, respectively. The government has certain rights in the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to transgenic plants.

BACKGROUND

Plants in the genus, Cuphea (Lythracea), accumulate high levels of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in their seeds. MCFAs are useful in the chemical industry in the production of detergents, lubricants and biofuels. Camelina sativa is a member of the Brassicaceae family, and has been found to be a sustainable source of oil for petroleum products. A high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids in Camelina oil, however, has limited its usefulness in the biofuel industry. Therefore, methods of engineering the oil properties in Camelina or other oil-producing organisms are desirable.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method of producing triacylglycerols (TAGs) comprising medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in an organism is provided. Such a method typically includes introducing a transgene into the organism, wherein the transgene comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an acyltransferase, wherein the at least one acyltransferase exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids, thereby producing TAGs comprising MCFAs in the organism.

In some embodiments, at least 20% (at least 40%, at least 50%, etc., etc.) of the TAGs comprising MCFAs have a C8:0 or a C10:0 at sn-2 position. In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acids are selected from the group consisting of C8:0 and C10:0.

In some embodiments, the at least one acyltransferase is a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) or a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT). In some embodiments, the at least one acyltransferase is a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) and a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT). In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the LPAT is selected from the group consisting of a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 and a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:3. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the DGAT is selected from the group consisting of a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:7 and a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:9. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the at least one acyltransferase is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1, a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:3, a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:7, and a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:9.

In some embodiments, the organism further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA)-specific thioesterase FatB. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the MCFA-specific thioesterase FatB is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:11, a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:13, and a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:15.

In some embodiments, the organism is selected from the group consisting of a plant and a microbe. In some embodiments, the plant is Camelina sativa.

In some embodiments, the transgene comprises a promoter. In some embodiments, the promoter is a seed-specific promoter. In some embodiments, the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an acyltransferase is operably linked to a seed-specific promoter. In some embodiments, the medium-chain fatty acids are produced in the seed.

In some embodiments, the introducing step is performed using Agrobacterium transformation, particle bombardment, or electroporation of protoplasts.

In another aspect, a method of producing triacylglycerols (TAGs) comprising medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) is provided. Such a method typically includes providing an organism comprising a transgene, wherein the transgene comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an acyltransferase, wherein the at least one acyltransferase exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids; growing the organism under appropriate conditions; and obtaining TAGs comprising MCFAs from the organism. In some embodiments, the TAGs are used in biofuel, jet fuel, detergents, and chemical feedstocks.

In still another aspect, a method of increasing the amount of triacylglycerols (TAGs) comprising medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in the seed oil of a plant is provided. Such a method typically includes providing a plant comprising a nucleic acid encoding a FatB polypeptide; introducing a heterologous nucleic acid molecule into the plant comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an acyltransferase, wherein the at least one acyltransferase exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids, thereby increasing the amount of TAGs comprising MCFAs in the seed oil of the plant without significantly changing the total oil content in the seed.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the methods and compositions of matter belong. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the methods and compositions of matter, suitable methods and materials are described below. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Part A

FIG. 1 shows the phylogenic relationship in deduced amino acid sequences of LPATs. Amino acid sequences of 6 LPATs from Cuphea pulcherrima (black triangle) and 1 LPAT from Cuphea viscosissima (gray triangle) were aligned with putative orthologs of higher plants, which were obtained from the protein database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The phylogenic tree was built with the MEGA6 software, using the minimum-evolution method with 1000 number of bootstrap replication.

FIG. 2 are the results of RT-PCR analysis showing spatial expression of Cuphea LPAT genes in diverse tissues. The Cuphea eIF4 and actin were used as internal controls.

FIG. 3 are photographs showing the subcellular localization of Cuphea LPATs. Single plane image of tobacco epidermal cells was obtained from confocal laser scanning microscopy. Left panels are YFP signals of Cuphea LPATs, middle panels are ER markers (A, C and D) and auto fluorescence of chloroplasts (B), and right panels are merged images. Bars=10 μm. (A) CpuLPATB; (B) CpuLPAT1; (C) CpuLPAT2a; (D) CvLPAT2.

FIG. 4 is data showing the complementation test of Cuphea LPATs in mutated E. coli. The new Cuphea LPATs were transformed into the E. coli JC201 strain, a mutant strain that will not grow at non-permissive temperatures without a functional LPAT.

FIG. 5A is a graph showing the fatty acid composition of lipids (Mol % of TAG).

FIG. 5B is a graph showing the fatty acid composition of the sn-2 position of seed oil TAG.

FIG. 5C is a graph showing the total amount of FAME (μg)/weight (mg).

FIG. 5D is a graph showing the fatty acid composition of lipids (Mol % of TAG).

FIG. 5E is a graph showing the fatty acid composition of the sn-2 position of seed oil TAG.

FIG. 5F is a graph showing the total amount of FAME (μg)/weight (mg).

FIG. 6 shows data demonstrating C14:0-containing TAG species detected by Neutral Loss ESI-MS/MS. Electrospray mass spectroscopy of TAG isolated from wild type (A) and 14:0 specific CpFatB2 (B) with CpuLPATB (C), CnLPATB (D), and CvLPAT2 (E). CN indicates the carbon number of TAG.

FIG. 7 provides the amino acid alignment of CpuLPATB homologs and information regarding the predicted transmembrane segments. (A) Amino acid alignment of SEQ ID NOs:17-28 (top to bottom) using the CLUSTAWL algorithm was generated using LPLAT-AGPAT-like domains of LPATB and LPAT1 homologs. Gray-dotted boxes indicate acyltransferase motifs. Circles and black triangles are catalytic amino acids and binding site in acyltransferase motifs, respectively. (B) Predicted transmembrane region of CpuLPATB by different programs; SOSUI, PSORTII, HMMTOP, and TMHMM server 2.0. The numbers indicate the amino acid residue of CpuLPATB. (C) A schematic showing topological transmembrane and acyltransferse motifs of CpuLPATB.

FIG. 8 provides the amino acid alignment of CvLPAT2 homologs and information regarding the predicted transmembrane segments. (A) Amino acid alignment of SEQ ID NOs: 29-36 (top to bottom) using the CLUSTAWL algorithm was generated using LPLAT-AGPAT-like domains of LPAT2 and LPAT3 homologs. Gray-dotted boxes indicate acyltransferase motifs. Circles and black triangles are catalytic amino acids and binding site in acyltransferase motifs, respectively. (B) Predicted transmembrane region of CvLPAT2 by different programs; SOSUI, PSORTII, HMMTOP, and TMHMM server 2.0. The numbers are indicated the amino acid residue of CpuLPATB. (C) A schematic showing the topological transmembrane and acyltransferase motifs of CvLPAT2.

FIG. 9 are graphs showing LPAT activity expressed in Agro-infiltrated tobacco leaf.

FIG. 10 is data showing the C10:0-containing TAG species detected by Neutral Loss ESI-MS/MS. Electrospray mass spectroscopy of TAG isolated from wild type (A) and 14:0 specific ChFatB2 (B) with CnLPATB (C) and CvLPAT2 (D). CN indicates the carbon number of TAG. *: contains 10/10/18:1, §: contains 10/10/20:1.

Part B

FIG. 11 is an unrooted phylogram of C. pulcherrima DGAT1 (CpDGAT1) and other hypothetical and functionally characterized DGATs. The alignment was generated by the CLUSTAL W program and the unrooted phylogram was constructed by the neighbor-joining method in MEGA4 software (Tamura et al., 2007, Mol. Biol. Evol., 24:1596-9).

FIG. 12 is an alignment of deduced amino acid sequence of CpDGAT1 with some of its orthologs (SEQ ID NOs: 37-42, top to bottom).

FIG. 13 is data showing CpDGAT1, CpDGAT2_A, CpDGAT2_B and CpDGAT2_C expression analysis in C. pulcherrima tissues by SQRT-PCR of cDNA from total RNA. PCR products were obtained with gene specific primers for CpDGAT1, CpDGAT2_A, CpDGAT2_B or CpDGAT2_C.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the short and medium chain fatty acid profile of CvFATb1+CpDGAT1 (T2) lines.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the short and medium chain fatty acid profile in CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 (T2) lines.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the fatty acid profile of TAG from transgenic Camelina plants

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the fatty acid profile of MAG species separated following the digestion of TAG from mature seeds of wild type and transgenic Camelina CvFatB1, CvFatB1+CvLPAT2, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 lines and C. pulcherrima and C. viscosissima.

FIG. 18A is a graph showing the fatty acid profile in developing seeds from wild type and transgenic Camelina lines expressing CvFatB1, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, or CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 at 10 DAF (days after flowering). At ten DAF, developing seeds contain very low amounts of 10:0 (˜2.5 mol %); the main fatty acids were 16:0 (˜14 mol %), 18:1 (20 mol %), 18:2 (40-44 mol %), and 18:3 (18-20 mol %). The percent share of each fatty acid (16:0 through 20:1) in TFA in transgenic lines was similar to that of wild type Camelina plants.

FIG. 18B is a graph showing the fatty acid profile in developing seeds from wild type and transgenic Camelina lines expressing CvFatB1, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, or CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 at 17 DAF. 17 DAF seeds contain more medium-chain fatty acids (8:0 (4 mol %), 10:0 (up to 24 mol %), 12:0 (2.5-4 mol %), 14:0 (3 mol %)) and higher amounts of 16:0 (13 mol %) in transgenic lines. In CvFatB1+CvLpat2+CpDGAT1, the amount of 18:1 decreases, while 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 are present in amounts of 15 mol %, 16 mol % and 6 mol %, respectively, as compared to 21.4 mol %, 30 mol % and 12.7 mol % in wild type Camelina plants.

FIG. 18C is a graph showing the fatty acid profile in developing seeds from wild type and transgenic Camelina lines expressing CvFatB1, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, or CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 at 22 DAF. 22 DAF seeds produce more medium chain fatty acids (5 mol % 8:0, 30 mol % 10:0, 7 mol % (12:0-14:0)). The amounts of 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 in CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 line are 12 mol %, 8 mol %, 12 mol %, 16 mol %, and 5 mol % as compared to 8 mol %, 13 mol %, 20 mol %, 41 mol %, and 10 mol % in seeds of wild type plants. Thus, the total share of 8:0 to 16:0 fatty acids in this line reaches 54 mol % of TFA as compared to 39 mol % in CvFatB1 line, 43% in CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 line and just 8 mol % in wild type.

FIG. 18D is a graph showing the fatty acid profile in developing seeds from wild type and transgenic Camelina lines expressing CvFatB1, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, or CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 at 30 DAF. In 30 DAF seeds from CvFatB1 line, there is 33.6 mol % of 8:0-16:0, 22.4 mol % 18:1, 13.7 mol % 18:2, 16.0 mol % 18:3 and 6.6 mol % 20:1. CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 transgenic lines accumulate more 10:0, and 8:0-16:0 total fatty acid amount is 37 mol % while amounts of 18:1, 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 are similar to what is found in seeds from CvFatB1 line. In CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 lines, the average share of 8:0-16:0 fatty acids is 43 mol % of TFA, 18.5 mol % being 10:0 and 13.2 mol % 18:1, 12.8 mol % 18:2, 18.3 mol % 18:3, 6.3 mol % 20:1.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing fatty acid profile of TAG from N. benthamiana leaves infiltrated with CvFatB1, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, CvFatB1+AthDGAT1.

FIG. 20 is a graph showing DGAT activity in crude extracts of developing seeds from Wt and transgenic Camelina lines. Values are mean±SD (n=3). Results are for assays using [1-14C] 10:0-CoA, and diacylglycerol (DAG) species: 10:0/10:0 (1,2-didecanoyl-sn-glycerol) or 18:1/18:1 (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol).

FIG. 21 is a graph showing the seed weight of mature seeds from Wt and transgenic Camelina.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing the germination efficiency of transgenic Camelina seeds.

FIG. 23 is data showing 10:0/10:0 DAG containing TAG species detected by Precursor 383.3 m/z ESI-MS/MS scans.

FIG. 24 are graphs showing fatty acid profiles of a Camelina transgenic line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is based on the discovery of novel nucleic acids encoding acyltransferase polypeptides. Such nucleic acids, SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, and the polypeptides encoded thereby, SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10, are described and characterized herein. Based on this discovery, such nucleic acid sequences can be used to produce particular and unique medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs).

As described herein, lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyze sequential reactions in the Kennedy pathway that produce triacylglycerols (TAG) in seeds and other plant tissues and organs. Triacylglycerols are the principal component of vegetable oils, which are used in a variety of edible applications (e.g., baking, frying) as well as non-food applications, such as biofuels, lubricants, and surfactants. LPAT uses fatty acids in the form of fatty acyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) as substrates for esterification to the sn-2 position of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to form phosphatidic acid (PA). Following dephosphorylation of PA, the resulting diacylglycerol (DAG) serves as a substrate for addition of a fatty acid in the form of fatty acyl-CoA to its sn-3 position to generate triacylglycerol, via the activity of DGAT. LPAT activity in seeds of the typical oilseed crops, such as canola (Brassica napus), camelina (Camelina sativa), and soybean (Glycine max) have strong specificity for unsaturated C18 fatty acid acyl-CoA substrates such as oleoyl (18:1)-, linoleoyl (18:2)-, and linolenoyl (18:3)-CoA, but little or no activity with saturated fatty acyl-CoA substrates (Sun et al., 1988, Plant Physiol., 88, 56-60; Oo et al., 1989, Plant Physiol., 91, 1288-1295). This activity arises predominantly from LPATs of the LPAT2 class, but also with contributions from LPATs of the bacterial-type LPATB class [Arroyo-Caro, J. M., Chileh, T., Kazachkov, M., Zou, J., Alonso, D. L., Garcia-Maroto, F. (2013) Plant Sci. 199-200:29-40]. The strict substrate specificity of oilseed LPATs for unsaturated fatty acyl-CoA substrates represents a major bottleneck for metabolic engineering of oilseeds to produce TAG with high levels of saturated medium-chain fatty acids with C6-C14 chain-lengths for applications such as biofuels, including bio-based Jet fuel A. These metabolic engineering strategies typically involve expression of divergent forms of the FatB acyl-ACP thioesterase that are able to produce medium-chain fatty acids of differing chain-lengths. An LPAT from coconut of the LPATB class has been previously shown to be effective at esterifying lauroyl (12:0)-CoA to the sn-2 position of LPA to produce lauric acid-rich oils when co-expressed with a 12:0-acyl carrier protein-specific FatB. The coconut LPATB enzyme, however, was ineffective for esterification of CoA forms of caprylic (8:0) or decanoic (10:0) acids to the LPA sn-2 position to generate 10:0-rich TAG in an engineered oilseed (Wiberg et al., 2000, Planta, 212, 33-40). In addition, no plant LPAT2 enzymes have been previously shown to have significant activity with any saturated medium-chain fatty acids.

DGAT enzymes occur in two forms, DGAT1 and DGAT2, based on their primary structures. These enzymes also represent potential bottlenecks for the accumulation of high levels of saturated medium-chain fatty acids in TAG of engineered oilseeds. DGAT2 enzymes from plants such as castor bean have been shown to enhance the accumulation of modified fatty acids such as ricinoleic acid. However, no specific plant DGAT1 or DGAT2 has been previously been shown to be effective at promoting increased accumulation of saturated medium-chain fatty acids in engineered oilseeds or to be active with DAGs rich in medium-chain fatty acids such as decanoic acid (10:0).

The embodiment of this invention is the discovery of LPAT2 and DGAT1 genes that are demonstrated in this disclosure to enhance the accumulation of medium-chain fatty acids, in particular, C8:0 and C10:0, in TAG and in the sn-2 position of TAG when expressed together with specialized FatB genes in seeds of the oilseed crop camelina (Camelina sativa). The co-expression of the LPAT2 genes with the DGAT1 genes is also shown to yield synergistic increases in medium-chain fatty acid accumulation in TAG and the sn-2 position of TAG in transgenic plants.

Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides

Novel nucleic acids encoding acyltransferases are provided herein (see, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9). Acyltransferases (PF01553; EC 2.3.1) are well known in the art and are defined as transferase enzymes that act on acyl groups. The acyltransferases exemplified herein include a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT; EC 2.3.1.51) and a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT; EC 2.3.1.20). The LPAT2 and LPAT2a polypeptides disclosed herein are unique in that they esterify saturated C8-C16 fatty acyl-CoA, including a high affinity for saturated C8 and C10 fatty acyl-CoA, at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols (TAGs), while the DGAT1 polypeptides disclosed herein have unique specificity for diacylglycerols (DAGs) substrates having a saturated C10 and, to a lesser extent, a saturated C8, at the sn-2 position.

Novel nucleic acids encoding medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA)-specific thioesterase, FatB polypeptides also are provided herein (see, for example, SEQ ID NO: 15). FatB polypeptides are a class of thioesterases (EC 3.2.1.14) that release C8 to C16 saturated fatty acids from acyl carrier protein (ACP) during de novo fatty acid synthesis. The typical FatB releases C16:0 from ACP, but FatBs that release other saturated fatty acids are known.

As used herein, nucleic acids can include DNA and RNA, and includes nucleic acids that contain one or more nucleotide analogs or backbone modifications. A nucleic acid can be single stranded or double stranded, which usually depends upon its intended use. The novel nucleic acids provided herein encode novel polypeptides (see, for example, SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 16). Also provided are nucleic acids and polypeptides that differ from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 15, and SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 16, respectively. Nucleic acids and polypeptides that differ in sequence from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 15, and SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 16, can have at least 50% sequence identity (e.g., at least 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity) to SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 15, and SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 16, respectively.

In calculating percent sequence identity, two sequences are aligned and the number of identical matches of nucleotides or amino acid residues between the two sequences is determined. The number of identical matches is divided by the length of the aligned region (i.e., the number of aligned nucleotides or amino acid residues) and multiplied by 100 to arrive at a percent sequence identity value. It will be appreciated that the length of the aligned region can be a portion of one or both sequences up to the full-length size of the shortest sequence. It also will be appreciated that a single sequence can align with more than one other sequence and hence, can have different percent sequence identity values over each aligned region.

The alignment of two or more sequences to determine percent sequence identity can be performed using the computer program ClustalW and default parameters, which allows alignments of nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences to be carried out across their entire length (global alignment). Chenna et al., 2003, Nucleic Acids Res., 31(13):3497-500. ClustalW calculates the best match between a query and one or more subject sequences, and aligns them so that identities, similarities and differences can be determined. Gaps of one or more residues can be inserted into a query sequence, a subject sequence, or both, to maximize sequence alignments. For fast pairwise alignment of nucleic acid sequences, the default parameters can be used (i.e., word size: 2; window size: 4; scoring method: percentage; number of top diagonals: 4; and gap penalty: 5); for an alignment of multiple nucleic acid sequences, the following parameters can be used: gap opening penalty: 10.0; gap extension penalty: 5.0; and weight transitions: yes. For fast pairwise alignment of polypeptide sequences, the following parameters can be used: word size: 1; window size: 5; scoring method: percentage; number of top diagonals: 5; and gap penalty: 3. For multiple alignment of polypeptide sequences, the following parameters can be used: weight matrix: blosum; gap opening penalty: 10.0; gap extension penalty: 0.05; hydrophilic gaps: on; hydrophilic residues: Gly, Pro, Ser, Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu, Arg, and Lys; and residue-specific gap penalties: on. ClustalW can be run, for example, at the Baylor College of Medicine Search Launcher website or at the European Bioinformatics Institute website on the World Wide Web.

Changes can be introduced into a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 15), thereby leading to changes in the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 16). For example, changes can be introduced into nucleic acid coding sequences using mutagenesis (e.g., site-directed mutagenesis, PCR-mediated mutagenesis) or by chemically synthesizing a nucleic acid molecule having such changes. Such nucleic acid changes can lead to conservative and/or non-conservative amino acid substitutions at one or more amino acid residues. A “conservative amino acid substitution” is one in which one amino acid residue is replaced with a different amino acid residue having a similar side chain (see, for example, Dayhoff et al. (1978, in Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, 5(Suppl. 3):345-352), which provides frequency tables for amino acid substitutions), and a non-conservative substitution is one in which an amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue that does not have a similar side chain.

As used herein, an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule is a nucleic acid molecule that is free of sequences that naturally flank one or both ends of the nucleic acid in the genome of the organism from which the isolated nucleic acid molecule is derived (e.g., a cDNA or genomic DNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease digestion). Such an isolated nucleic acid molecule is generally introduced into a vector (e.g., a cloning vector, or an expression vector) for convenience of manipulation or to generate a fusion nucleic acid molecule, discussed in more detail below. In addition, an isolated nucleic acid molecule can include an engineered nucleic acid molecule such as a recombinant or a synthetic nucleic acid molecule.

As used herein, a “purified” polypeptide is a polypeptide that has been separated or purified from cellular components that naturally accompany it. Typically, the polypeptide is considered “purified” when it is at least 70% (e.g., at least 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 99%) by dry weight, free from the polypeptides and naturally occurring molecules with which it is naturally associated. Since a polypeptide that is chemically synthesized is, by nature, separated from the components that naturally accompany it, a synthetic polypeptide is “purified.”

Nucleic acids can be isolated using techniques routine in the art. For example, nucleic acids can be isolated using any method including, without limitation, recombinant nucleic acid technology, and/or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). General PCR techniques are described, for example in PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual, Dieffenbach & Dveksler, Eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1995. Recombinant nucleic acid techniques include, for example, restriction enzyme digestion and ligation, which can be used to isolate a nucleic acid. Isolated nucleic acids also can be chemically synthesized, either as a single nucleic acid molecule or as a series of oligonucleotides.

Polypeptides can be purified from natural sources (e.g., a biological sample) by known methods such as DEAE ion exchange, gel filtration, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. A polypeptide also can be purified, for example, by expressing a nucleic acid in an expression vector. In addition, a purified polypeptide can be obtained by chemical synthesis. The extent of purity of a polypeptide can be measured using any appropriate method, e.g., column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or HPLC analysis.

A vector or construct containing a nucleic acid (e.g., a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide) also is provided. Vectors, including expression vectors, are commercially available or can be produced by recombinant DNA techniques routine in the art. A vector containing a nucleic acid can have expression elements operably linked to such a nucleic acid, and further can include sequences such as those encoding a selectable marker (e.g., an antibiotic resistance gene). A vector containing a nucleic acid can encode a chimeric or fusion polypeptide (i.e., a polypeptide operatively linked to a heterologous polypeptide, which can be at either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the polypeptide). Representative heterologous polypeptides are those that can be used in purification of the encoded polypeptide (e.g., 6×His tag (SEQ ID NO: 43), glutathione S-transferase (GST)).

Expression elements include nucleic acid sequences that direct and regulate expression of nucleic acid coding sequences. One example of an expression element is a promoter sequence. Expression elements also can include introns, enhancer sequences, response elements, or inducible elements that modulate expression of a nucleic acid. Expression elements can be of bacterial, yeast, insect, mammalian, or viral origin, and vectors can contain a combination of elements from different origins. As used herein, operably linked means that a promoter or other expression element(s) are positioned in a vector relative to a nucleic acid in such a way as to direct or regulate expression of the nucleic acid (e.g., in-frame).

Vectors as described herein can be introduced into a host cell. As used herein, “host cell” refers to the particular cell into which the nucleic acid is introduced and also includes the progeny of such a cell that carry the vector. A host cell can be any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. For example, nucleic acids can be expressed in bacterial cells such as E. coli, or in insect cells, yeast or mammalian cells (such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) or COS cells). Other suitable host cells are known to those skilled in the art. Many methods for introducing nucleic acids into host cells, both in vivo and in vitro, are well known to those skilled in the art and include, without limitation, electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol (PEG) transformation, heat shock, lipofection, microinjection, and viral-mediated nucleic acid transfer.

Nucleic acids can be detected using any number of amplification techniques (see, e.g., PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual, 1995, Dieffenbach & Dveksler, Eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195; 4,683,202; 4,800,159; and 4,965,188) with an appropriate pair of oligonucleotides (e.g., primers). A number of modifications to the original PCR have been developed and can be used to detect a nucleic acid.

Nucleic acids also can be detected using hybridization. Hybridization between nucleic acids is discussed in detail in Sambrook et al. (1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Sections 7.37-7.57, 9.47-9.57, 11.7-11.8, and 11.45-11.57). Sambrook et al. discloses suitable Southern blot conditions for oligonucleotide probes less than about 100 nucleotides (Sections 11.45-11.46). The Tm between a sequence that is less than 100 nucleotides in length and a second sequence can be calculated using the formula provided in Section 11.46. Sambrook et al. additionally discloses Southern blot conditions for oligonucleotide probes greater than about 100 nucleotides (see Sections 9.47-9.54). The Tm between a sequence greater than 100 nucleotides in length and a second sequence can be calculated using the formula provided in Sections 9.50-9.51 of Sambrook et al.

The conditions under which membranes containing nucleic acids are prehybridized and hybridized, as well as the conditions under which membranes containing nucleic acids are washed to remove excess and non-specifically bound probe, can play a significant role in the stringency of the hybridization. Such hybridizations and washes can be performed, where appropriate, under moderate or high stringency conditions. For example, washing conditions can be made more stringent by decreasing the salt concentration in the wash solutions and/or by increasing the temperature at which the washes are performed. Simply by way of example, high stringency conditions typically include a wash of the membranes in 0.2×SSC at 65° C.

In addition, interpreting the amount of hybridization can be affected, for example, by the specific activity of the labeled oligonucleotide probe, by the number of probe-binding sites on the template nucleic acid to which the probe has hybridized, and by the amount of exposure of an autoradiograph or other detection medium. It will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that although any number of hybridization and washing conditions can be used to examine hybridization of a probe nucleic acid molecule to immobilized target nucleic acids, it is more important to examine hybridization of a probe to target nucleic acids under identical hybridization, washing, and exposure conditions. Preferably, the target nucleic acids are on the same membrane.

A nucleic acid molecule is deemed to hybridize to a nucleic acid but not to another nucleic acid if hybridization to a nucleic acid is at least 5-fold (e.g., at least 6-fold, 7-fold, 8-fold, 9-fold, 10-fold, 20-fold, 50-fold, or 100-fold) greater than hybridization to another nucleic acid. The amount of hybridization can be quantitated directly on a membrane or from an autoradiograph using, for example, a PhosphorImager or a Densitometer (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.).

Polypeptides can be detected using antibodies. Techniques for detecting polypeptides using antibodies include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots, immunoprecipitations and immunofluorescence. An antibody can be polyclonal or monoclonal. An antibody having specific binding affinity for a polypeptide can be generated using methods well known in the art. The antibody can be attached to a solid support such as a microtiter plate using methods known in the art. In the presence of a polypeptide, an antibody-polypeptide complex is formed.

Detection (e.g., of an amplification product, a hybridization complex, or a polypeptide) is usually accomplished using detectable labels. The term “label” is intended to encompass the use of direct labels as well as indirect labels. Detectable labels include enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, and radioactive materials.

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids and Methods of Making Medium-Chain Fatty Acids

The nucleic acids described herein, and the polypeptides encoded thereby, can be used to engineer a variety of useful medium-chain fatty acids and triacylglycerols that incorporate such medium-chain fatty acids. As used herein, medium-chain fatty acids refer to 6- to 14-carbon long saturated fatty acids; specifically, caprioc (C6:0), caprylic (C8:0), capric (C10:0), lauric (C12:0), and myristic (C14:0) acids. Coconut and palm-kernel oils naturally contain high amounts of medium-chain fatty acids. Medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) usually contain unsaturated 6- to 14-carbon fatty acid esters of glycerol, but the nucleic acids described herein and the polypeptides encoded thereby can be used to produce TAGs containing predominantly C8:0, C10:0, or C12:0 fatty acid esters at the sn-2 position. As used herein, “predominantly” refers to at least 20% of the TAGs (e.g., at least 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the TAGs) having a C8:0 or a C10:0 at the sn-2 position.

For example, FatBs that can generate C8 and C10 fatty acids (e.g., ChFatB2 or CvFatB1) can be used in combination with at least one of the novel acyltransferases described herein to strongly enhance the production of TAGs having a saturated C8 or C10 at the sn-2 position. Also for example, a FatB that can generate C14 and C16 fatty acids (e.g., CpFatB2) can be used in combination with at least one of the novel acyltransferases described herein to strongly enhance the production of TAGs having a saturated C14 or C16 at the sn-2 position. It would be appreciated that other FatB sequences can be used in combination with at least one of the acyltransferases described herein to engineer useful medium-chain fatty acids and the TAGs incorporating them.

Significantly, the LPATs and DGATs described herein have unprecedented specificity for C8 and C10 fatty acids. Also significantly, the combination of one of the LPAT sequences disclosed herein and one of the DGAT sequences disclosed herein, in combination with a FatB sequence, results in a synergistic effect on the production of fatty acids and, consequently, the TAGs incorporating such fatty acids. Although not wishing to be bound by any particular mechanism, the observed synergy likely is because the LPATs described herein generate higher levels of DAGs with saturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position, which likely is the preferred substrate for DGATs described herein.

At least one of the acyltransferase sequences described herein can be expressed (e.g., overexpressed) in a transgenic organism in order to produce oils or triacylglycerols one or more medium-chain fatty acids. Therefore, transgenic organisms are provided that are transformed with at least one of the acyltransferase nucleic acid molecules described herein (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) or a functional fragment thereof, under control of a promoter that is able to drive expression. As discussed herein, a nucleic acid molecule used in a plant expression vector can have a different sequence than a sequence described herein, which can be expressed as a percent sequence identity (relative to, e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) or based on the conditions under which the sequence hybridizes to, e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.

As an alternative to using a full-length sequence, a portion of the sequence can be used that encodes a polypeptide fragment having the desired functionality (referred to herein as a “functional fragment”). When used with respect to nucleic acids, it would be appreciated that it is not the nucleic acid fragment that possesses functionality but the encoded polypeptide fragment. Based on the disclosure herein, one of skill in the art can predict the portion(s) of a polypeptide (e.g., one or more domains) that may impart the desired functionality.

In addition to at least one of the acyltransferases disclosed herein, the organisms also can contain a nucleic acid encoding a MCFA-specific thioesterase (FatB). Numerous FatB sequences are known in the art (e.g., without limitation, SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 13), or the novel FatB sequence disclosed herein (e.g., SEQ ID NO:15) can be used. In some embodiments, the FatB sequence is heterologous to the organism; in some embodiments, the FatB sequence is endogenous to the organism.

Methods of introducing one or more nucleic acids (e.g., one or more heterologous nucleic acids, one or more transgenes) into cells, including plant cells, are known in the art and include, for example, particle bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, microinjection, polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation (e.g., of protoplasts, see, for example, Yoo et al. (2007, Nature Protocols, 2(7):1565-72)), liposome-mediated DNA uptake, or electroporation. Following transformation of plant cells, the transgenic cells can be regenerated into transgenic plants. As described herein, expression of the transgene results in an organism that produces, or exhibits an increased amount of, medium-chain fatty acids (relative to a corresponding organism not containing or not expressing the transgene). The transgenic organisms can be screened for the amount of medium-chain fatty acids, and the medium-chain fatty acids can be obtained (e.g., purified) from the organism.

Methods of detecting medium-chain fatty acids, and methods of determining the amount of one or more medium-chain fatty acids, are known in the art and are described herein. For example, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas liquid chromatography (GLC), liquid chromatography (LC), and ESI-MS/MS scans can be used to detect the presence of one or more medium-chain fatty acids and/or determine the amount of one or more medium-chain fatty acids. Lipase digestion of triacylglycerols can also be used to establish the content of medium-chain fatty acids at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols.

As used herein, an “increase” refers to an increase (e.g., a statistically significant increase) in the amount of medium-chain fatty acids or oils or triacylglycerols in plants by at least about 5% up to about 95% (e.g., about 5% to about 10%, about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5% to about 75%, about 10% to about 25%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about 90%, about 20% to about 40%, about 20% to about 60%, about 20% to about 80%, about 25% to about 75%, about 50% to about 75%, about 50% to about 85%, about 50% to about 95%, and about 75% to about 95%) relative to the amount from a non-transgenic organism. As used herein, statistical significance refers to a p-value of less than 0.05, e.g., a p-value of less than 0.025 or a p-value of less than 0.01, using an appropriate measure of statistical significance, e.g., a one-tailed two sample t-test.

When the organism is a microbe, a highly expressing or constitutive promoter can be used to direct expression of the at least one acyltransferase. Transgenic microbes then can be cultured or fermented in order to obtain the medium-chain fatty acids. When the organism is a plant, it generally is desirable, although not absolutely required, to use a seed-specific promoter to direct expression of the at least one acyltransferase. Significantly, the promoters of the acyltransferases described herein are seed-specific, and thus, can be used to direct expression of the sequences in a transgenic plant. Transgenic plants having increased amounts of medium-chain fatty acids, compared to the amount in a corresponding non-transgenic plant, can be selected for use in, for example, a breeding program as discussed in more detail below.

Following transformation, transgenic To plants are regenerated from the transformed cells and those plants, or a subsequent generation of that population (e.g., T₁, T₂, T₃, etc.), can be screened for the presence of the at least one acyltransferase (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) or for the phenotype (e.g., an increase in the amount of medium-chain fatty acids compared to a non-transgenic plant or a transgenic plant not expressing the transgene). Screening for plants carrying at least one acyltransferase can be performed using methods routine in the art (e.g., hybridization, amplification, combinations thereof) or by evaluating the phenotype (e.g., detecting and/or determining the amount of one or more medium-chain fatty acids in the plant (e.g., in the seed)). Generally, the presence and expression of the at least one acyltransferase (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) results in an increase of one or more medium-chain fatty acids in the plants (e.g., in seeds from the plants) compared to a corresponding plant (e.g., having the same varietal background) lacking or not expressing the at least one acyltransferase.

A plant carrying the at least one acyltransferase (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) can be used in a plant breeding program to create novel and useful cultivars, lines, varieties and hybrids. Thus, in some embodiments, a T₁, T₂, T₃ or later generation plant containing the at least one acyltransferase is crossed with a second plant, and progeny of the cross are identified in which the at least one acyltransferase is present. It will be appreciated that the second plant can be one of the species and varieties described herein. It will also be appreciated that the second plant can contain the same transgene or combination of transgenes as the plant to which it is crossed, a different transgene, or the second plant can carry a mutation or be wild type at the endogenous locus. Additionally or alternatively, a second line can exhibit a phenotypic trait such as, for example, disease resistance, high yield, height, plant maturation, stalk size, and/or leaf number per plant.

Breeding is carried out using known procedures. DNA fingerprinting, SNP or similar technologies may be used in a marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding program to transfer or breed the transgene(s) into other lines, varieties or cultivars, as described herein. Progeny of the cross can be screened for the transgene(s) using methods described herein, and plants having the transgenes described herein (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) can be selected. For example, plants in the F₂ or backcross generations can be screened using a marker developed from a sequence described herein or a fragment thereof, using one of the techniques listed herein. Seed from progeny plants also can be screened for the amount of one or more medium-chain fatty acids, and those plants having increased amounts, compared to a corresponding plant that lacks the transgene, can be selected. Plants identified as possessing the transgene and/or the expected phenotype can be backcrossed or self-pollinated to create a second population to be screened. Backcrossing or other breeding procedures can be repeated until the desired phenotype of the recurrent parent is recovered.

Successful crosses yield F₁ plants that are fertile and that can be backcrossed with one of the parents if desired. In some embodiments, a plant population in the F₂ generation is screened for the transgene using standard methods (e.g., PCR with primers based upon the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein). Selected plants are then crossed with one of the parents and the first backcross (BC₁) generation plants are self-pollinated to produce a BC₁F₂ population that is again screened for the transgene or the phenotype. The process of backcrossing, self-pollination, and screening is repeated, for example, at least four times until the final screening produces a plant that is fertile and reasonably similar to the recurrent parent. This plant, if desired, is self-pollinated and the progeny are subsequently screened again to confirm that the plant contains the transgene and exhibits the expected phenotype. Breeder's seed of the selected plant can be produced using standard methods including, for example, field testing, confirmation of the presence of the transgene, and/or chemical analyses of the plant (e.g., of the seed) to determine the level of medium-chain fatty acids.

The result of a plant breeding program using the transgenic plants described herein are novel and useful cultivars, varieties, lines, and hybrids. As used herein, the term “variety” refers to a population of plants that share constant characteristics which separate them from other plants of the same species. A variety is often, although not always, sold commercially. While possessing one or more distinctive traits, a variety is further characterized by a very small overall variation between individuals within that variety. A “pure line” variety may be created by several generations of self-pollination and selection, or vegetative propagation from a single parent using tissue or cell culture techniques. A “line,” as distinguished from a variety, most often denotes a group of plants used non-commercially, for example, in plant research. A line typically displays little overall variation between individuals for one or more traits of interest, although there may be some variation between individuals for other traits.

A variety can be essentially derived from another line or variety. As defined by the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Dec. 2, 1961, as revised at Geneva on Nov. 10, 1972, On Oct. 23, 1978, and on Mar. 19, 1991), a variety is “essentially derived” from an initial variety if: a) it is predominantly derived from the initial variety, or from a variety that is predominantly derived from the initial variety, while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety; b) it is clearly distinguishable from the initial variety; and c) except for the differences which result from the act of derivation, it confirms to the initial variety in the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety. Essentially derived varieties can be obtained, for example, by the selection of a natural or induced mutant, a somaclonal variant, a variant individual plant from the initial variety, backcrossing, or transformation.

Hybrids can be produced by preventing self-pollination of female parent plants (i.e., seed parents) of a first variety, permitting pollen from male parent plants of a second variety to fertilize the female parent plants, and allowing F₁ hybrid seeds to form on the female plants. Self-pollination of female plants can be prevented by emasculating the flowers at an early stage of flower development. Alternatively, pollen formation can be prevented on the female parent plants using a form of male sterility. For example, male sterility can be produced by cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), nuclear male sterility, genetic male sterility, molecular male sterility wherein a transgene inhibits microsporogenesis and/or pollen formation, or self-incompatibility. Female parent plants containing CMS are particularly useful. In embodiments in which the female parent plants are CMS, the male parent plants typically contain a fertility restorer gene to ensure that the F₁ hybrids are fertile. In other embodiments in which the female parents are CMS, male parents can be used that do not contain a fertility restorer. F₁ hybrids produced from such parents are male sterile. Male sterile hybrid seed can be interplanted with male fertile seed to provide pollen for seed-set on the resulting male sterile plants.

Varieties, lines and cultivars described herein can be used to form single-cross F₁ hybrids. In such embodiments, the plants of the parent varieties can be grown as substantially homogeneous adjoining populations to facilitate natural cross-pollination from the male parent plants to the female parent plants. The F₂ seed formed on the female parent plants is selectively harvested by conventional means. One also can grow the two parent plant varieties in bulk and harvest a blend of F₁ hybrid seed formed on the female parent and seed formed upon the male parent as the result of self-pollination. Alternatively, three-way crosses can be carried out wherein a single-cross F₁ hybrid is used as a female parent and is crossed with a different male parent. As another alternative, double-cross hybrids can be created wherein the F₁ progeny of two different single-crosses are themselves crossed. Self-incompatibility can be used to particular advantage to prevent self-pollination of female parents when forming a double-cross hybrid.

The microbial organisms used in the methods described herein include, without limitation, bacteria (E. coli, Pseudomonas sp.), cyanobacteria (Synechocystis sp), and green microalgae (C. reinhardtii, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Chlorella sp., Nannochloropsis sp.) species, fungal (Yarrowia lipolytica, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) species. The plants used in the methods described herein can be oilseed plants such as, without limitation, Camelina spp. (e.g., Camelina sativa, Camelina alyssum, Camelina rumelica) or other Brassicaceae spp. (e.g., Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Brassica napus, B. carinata), Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam), Glycine max (soybean), Linum spp. (e.g., Linum usitatissimum, flax), Crambe spp. (e.g. Crambe abyssinica), Ricinus communis (castor bean), Gossypium spp. (e.g. Gossypium hirsutum cotton), or non-oilseed plants such as, without limitation, legumes (e.g., peas, beans), tuberous crops (potato, cassava), or other crop plant.

The MCFAs or TAGs comprising MCFAs produced in the methods herein can be used in any number of products in which a medium-chain fatty acid or a TAG containing such a medium-chain fatty acid is desired. Such products include, without limitation, biofuel and/or jet fuel. For example, vegetable oils with TAGs containing fatty acid chains having 10 or less carbons are more desirable feedstocks for the biofuel industry due to their lower viscosity and because such vegetable oils may not require trans-esterification, which is usually a required step when converting vegetable oils to biodiesel. In addition, the MCFAs or the TAGs comprising MCFAs produced as described herein can be used in detergents, cosmetics, surfactants, or feedstocks for preparation of other specialized chemicals.

In addition, in some embodiments, one or more of the acyltransferases described herein can be used in industrial inter-esterification of fatty acids to generate particular TAGs or one or more of the acyltransferases described herein can be used in a bioreactor (e.g., one or more of the acyltransferases described herein can be immobilized) to make particular TAGs for specialized nutritional or industrial applications.

In accordance with the present invention, there may be employed conventional molecular biology, microbiology, biochemical, and recombinant DNA techniques within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. The invention will be further described in the following examples, which do not limit the scope of the methods and compositions of matter described in the claims.

EXAMPLES Part A Example 1—Plant Material, Growth and Transformation Conditions

Camelina sativa seed was sowed into 81 cm² square green plastic pots with Fafard Germination Mix based soil. Natural ambient light was supplemented in the greenhouses with a combination of metal halide and high pressure sodium lights. Lights was provided for a 14 hour day-length. During the daytime temperatures were set at a range of 24° C.-26° C. and during the nighttime temperatures were set at a range 18° C.-20° C. When outdoor temperatures were above 29° C. the supplemental lights were shut off to reduce the need for extra cooling. Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells (strain C58C1) were transformed with the binary vectors containing LPAT cDNA by the electroporation. Camelina plants were transformed by floral dip followed by vacuum infiltration and a fluorescent protein (DsRed) was used as a visual selection marker (Lu & Kang, 2008, Plant Cell Rep., 27:273-8). Segregation analyses were performed on the T2 showed fluorescence seeds to determine the number of T-DNA insertion loci. Plants homozygous for the transgene were identified by screening T3 seeds for 100% red fluorescence.

Example 2—RNA Isolation from Cuphea Species and cDNA Conversion

Total RNAs were isolated from different Cuphea tissues such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers and developing seeds using slightly modified methods described in the previous report (Chang et al., 1993, Plant Mol. Biol. Report., 11:113-6) and RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen). The first step was performed by the CTAB-based procedure. A pre-heated 10 ml of extraction buffer (2% w/v CTAB, 2% w/v PVP, 2 M NaCl, 100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 25 mM EDTA pH 8.0 and 0.05% w/v of spermidine) was added to the sample (200-300 mg) ground in liquid nitrogen, mixed vigorously by vortexing and incubated at 65° C. for 10 min. The sample was divided into several new microcentrifuge tubes. An equal volume of chloroform was added and the tubes, mixed vigorously and then centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 10 min at 4° C. The supernatant was transferred to new microcentrifuge tubes and ⅓ volume of 8 M LiCl was added. The mixture was incubated in ice for overnight, and the RNA was selectively collected after centrifugation at 13000 rpm for 1 hour at 4° C. The pellet was resuspended in 500 μl of RLT buffer in RNeasy Plant Mini Kit and was then carried out as indicated in the manufacturer's handbook including DNase I treatment. The first-strand cDNA was synthesized from 2 ug total RNA using RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Thermo Scientific) with oligo-(dT) primer.

Example 3—Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope

The expression of transient fluorescent fusion proteins in tobacco leaves was performed using the agro-infiltration methods as described previously (Sparkes et al., 2006, Nature Protocols, 1:2019-25). Two days after infiltration, the abaxial leaf surface was observed with a confocal laser scanning microscope (Olympus). For YFP and mCherry, the excitation wavelengths were respectively 488 nm and 545 nm, and the emitted fluorescence was collected at 495˜530 nm and 565˜600 nm, respectively.

Example 4—Complementation of Cuphea LPAT cDNAs by Expression in Escherichia coli Mutant

The thermo-sensitive strain, E. coli JC201, was used to complement the deficient of LPAT activity (Coleman, 1992, Mol. Gen. Genet., 232:295-303). The Cuphea LPAT cDNAs were cloned into the into the pBluescript SK⁺ multicloning site using SacI and NotI. JC201 was transformed via heat shock and was selected on ampicillin plates at 30° C. Complementing colonies were inoculated into starter cultures and grown to an optical density at 600 nm of 0.5 at 30° C. with or without 1 mM isopropylthio-β-galactoside (IPTG). Aliquots were grown in the presence of IPTG at 30° C. and 44° C., and growth curves were constructed using data obtained from three individual complementation experiments.

Example 5—Fatty Acid Analysis of Seed Oils

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were generated by grinding 10 mg of dry seeds in 2 mL of 2.5% H2SO4 (v/v) in methanol including 900 μg of tri 17:0-TAG (Nu-Chek Prep, Elysian, Minn., USA) in toluene (10 mg/mL) as an internal standard and heated for 45 min at 90° C. in tightly capped tubes. Following cooling, 1.5 mL of water and 1.5 mL hexane were added to tubes and mixed vigorously. The organic phase was transferred to autosampler vials and analyzed on an Agilent Technologies 7890A gas chromatograph (GC) fitted with a 30 m length×0.25 mm inner diameter HP-INNOWax column (Agilent, Santa Clara, Calif., USA) using H2 carrier gas. The GC was programmed for an initial temperature of 90° C. (1 min hold) followed by an increase of 30° C. min-1 to 235° C. and maintained for a further 5 min. Detection was achieved using flame ionization.

Example 6—Neutral Loss ESI-MS/MS Analysis

Mass spectrometry analyses were conducted using an Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) 4000 QTRAP linear ion trap quadrupole mass spectrometer to characterize TAG molecular species. The total neutral lipid extract for ESI-MS/MS analysis was prepared as described for seed oil content measurement below but without added internal standard and diluted 1:5000 in water/isopropyl alcohol/methanol (55:35:10 v/v/v) containing 25 mm ammonium formate and 4 μL/L formic acid and directly infused into the mass spectrometer at a rate of 20 μL per minute. Instrument settings were as follows: Source temperature 400° C., ESI needle voltage 5.5 kV (positive mode), desolvation potential (DP) 90, entrance potential (EP) 10, Curtain gas (CUR) 10, and gas 1 (GS1) 50 arbitrary units, gas 2 (GS2) 40 arbitrary units. Neutral loss spectra showing the loss of a specific fatty acid from TAG species were generated by monitoring the loss of 189.1 m/z (for C10:0) and 245.1 m/z (for C14:0). Scans were taken over a mass range of 500-1475 m/z with a cycle time of 3 s. Data was collected for five cycles.

Example 7—RNA Isolation from Developing Seeds and cDNA Library Construction

Total RNA was isolated from Cuphea pulcherrima and Cuphea viscosleaves and developing seeds collected from greenhouse grown plants and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80° C. until use in RNA isolation. Total RNA was isolated according to a method described previously (Mattheus et al., 2003, Phytochemical Analysis, 14:209-15; Suzuki et al., 2004, Biotechniques, 37:542-44). In brief, developing seeds were grounded to a fine powder in liquid nitrogen. The powders were transferred to a chilled centrifuge tube containing cold extraction buffer consisting of 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 50 mM ethylenebis (oxyethylenenitrilo) tetraacetic acid, pH 8.0, 100 mM sodium chloride, 1% 6-(p-toluidino)-2-naphthalenesulphonic acid, 6% sodium p-aminosalicylic acid, 1% SDS, 1% PVP-40, 3% PVPP:chloroform and 1% β-mercaptoethanol. The sample was centrifuged for 10 min with Sorvall SS-34 rotor, 10500 rpm at 4° C. The supernatant was transferred to a fresh tube. An equal volume of chloroform was added and the mixture was vortexed for 2 min, centrifuged for 10 min at 10500 rpm and 4° C. The aqueous phase was transferred to a fresh tube. The aqueous fraction was extracted twice with phenol:chloroform (1:1, v/v), and extracted once with chloroform. The RNA was precipitated overnight with 0.1 volume of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 2.5 volume of 95% ethanol at −20° C. The RNA was precipitated by centrifugation for 30 min at 10500 rpm and 4° C., rinsed once with 70% ethanol, briefly dried, and dissolved in DEPC-water.

Example 8-454 Transcriptome Analysis

200 ng of polyA+-enriched RNA prepared from developing seeds of Cuphea pulcherrima and Cuphea viscosissma was used in the preparation of a single sequencing library with custom adaptors according to methods of Nguyen, H. T., Silva, J. E., Podicheti, R., Macrander, J., Yang, W., Nazarenus, T. J., Nam, J. W., Jaworski, J. G., Lu, C, Scheffler, B. E., Mockaitis, K & Cahoon, E. B. (2013). The double-stranded cDNA library intermediate was partially normalized by DSN treatment (Evrogen) to reduce the representation of the transcripts of greatest abundance. Shearing prior to adaptor ligation was by nebulization (30 sec, 30 psi). The final library was assessed on a Bioanalyzer DNA7500 chip (Agilent) and showed a peak size of 660 bp.

Emulsion PCR and sequencing was done according to the manufacturer (Roche/454 Sequencing). Two regions of two-region plus three regions of four-region GS-FLX Titanium PicoTitre™ plate were run to 800 cycles.

The Cuphea pulcherrima and Cuphea viscosissma transcriptome assemblies were matched by BLASTX using BLOSUM62 scoring matrix and a word size of 3, to protein sequences of TAIR10 representative gene models (Arabidopsis.org on the World Wide Web) with an E-value limit of 1 e-5. The top hit(s) for each query sequence was retained based on best bit score and E-value. Secondly TAIR10 models (above) were matched to assembly elements (isotigs and singletons) using tBLASTN with an E-value limit of 1 e-5. Candidate acyl lipid metabolism gene sequences were retrieved from BLAST result sets above were trimmed to include only these genes. The best isotig for each isogroup was retained, trimming out putative alternative transcripts of the same gene (as described in Nguyen et al., 2013, Plant Biotechnol. J., 11(6), 759-769.

Example 9—Isolation of Multiple Putative LPAT Paralogs in Cuphea Species

To isolate specialized LPAT for medium chain acyl-CoA, we performed the RNA sequencing and assembly of over 2 million 454 sequencing pyrosequencing reads from the developing seeds of C. pulcherrima (recently re-classified as C. avigera var. pulcherrima) and C. viscosissima. Nucleotide sequence similarity to Arabidopsis LPAT2 was used for identification of potential LPAT orthologs. Six full-lengths of LPAT candidate genes were isolated in the 454 sequencing transcriptome of C. pulcherrima, and one full-length of LPAT candidate gene was found in the 454 sequencing transcriptome of C. viscosissima. We used the 7 full-lengths of putative LPAT genes for further studies.

The evolutionary relationship of cuphea LPAT genes was investigated based on their deduced amino acid sequences to collect more information about relationships and to predict function for TAG accumulation. The sequences were aligned with putative orthologs of higher plants, which were described by Manas-Fernandez et al. (2013, Europ. J. Lipid Sci. Technol., 115:1334-6) and Arroyo-Caro et al. (2013, Plant Sci., 199:29-40), and obtained the sequences from the protein database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). LPATs have been sub-grouped by plastid LPAT (LPAT1) and microsomal LPAT, and then the latter was further categorized into two classes, A and B. The class A microsomal LPATs are typical enzymes involved in synthesis of membrane glycerolipids, they show ubiquitous expression in plants and have a substrate preference for 18:1-CoA. Based on the category of Arabidopsis LPATs, the class A microsomal LPATs were further divided into 2 subgroups as LPAT2/LPAT3 group and LPAT4/LPAT5 group. The class B microsomal LPAT (LPATB) is classified as a seed-specific isoform and is found in plants accumulating unusual fatty acids in their seed oil. Even though LPATB is a microsomal LPAT, the class has a closer relationship with plastidal LPAT1 than other plant groups. However, LPATB is closer to the enzyme of other organisms, such as E. coli, yeast, and human.

Four genes of class A LPAT, one gene of LPATB, and one gene of LPAT1 were found in C. pulcherrima. Based on the classification, these LPATs were named as CpuLPAT1, CpuLPAT2a, CpuLPAT2b, CpuLPAT2c, CpuLPAT3 and CpuLPATB (FIG. 1). One LPAT gene from C. viscosissima was isolated, classified as class A, and named as CvLPAT2 (FIG. 1). CpuLPATB belonged to the same group as CnLPAT, which was isolated in coconut and related to increase of lauric acid by incorporating this fatty acid into the sn-2 position of TAG in transgenic plants seeds (Knutzon, et al., 1999, Plant Physiol., 109:999-1006). Based on the relationship between coconut LPATB and MCFA, we assumed that CpuLPATB might involve the increase of MCFA in TAG. So the studies were focused to reveal the function of CpuLPATB. Because CvLPAT2 was the only LPAT gene isolated from C. viscosissima, the functional studies of CvLPAT2 were performed in parallel.

Example 10—Acyltransferase Motifs and Topology of Transmembrane Domain in Cuphea LPATs

An amino acid alignment reveals a high level of amino acid identity among plant LPATBs (FIG. 2A). The LPLAT-AGPAT-like domain of CpuLPATB shared 82%, 79%, 77%, 74% and 70% identities with Vitis vinifera (XP 002278280), Ricinus communis [AFR42414], Oryza sativa (CAH66825), Cocos nucifera [Q42670], and Limnanthes douglasii [Q42870], respectively. The domain showed a low identity with other organisms such as 40% (Homo sapiens, NP006402), 39% (Homo sapiens, NP006403), 36% (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, SLC1, P33333), and 34% (Escherichia coli, PlsC, AAA24397). We predicted that there were 4 conserved acyltransferase motifs in CpuLPATB, which are NH(X)₄D (motif I, residues 137-143), GHLRIDR (SEQ ID NO: 44) (motif II, residues 178-183), FPEGTR (SEQ ID NO: 45) (motif III, residues 210-215), and LPIVPIVL (SEQ ID NO: 46) (motif IV, residues 237-244) (FIG. 7A). These are significantly important on acyltransferase activities. Hydrophobic motif II was first characterized as an acyl-CoA-binding site in animal cells and might modulate acyl-CoA selectivity and residue “EGT” in motif III has been presumed to be involved in the binding of the LPA.

To predict transmembrane domain sequences, structural analysis of the gene model-translated protein sequences was carried out in silico using SOSUI [bp.nuap.nagoya-u.ac.jp/sosui/on the World Wide Web], PSORTII [psort.hgc.jp/form2.html on the World Wide Web], HMMTOP [enzim.hu/hmmtop/on the World Wide Web], and TMHMM server 2.0 [cbs.dtu.dk/services/TMHMM/ on the World Wide Web]. All programs predicted only one transmembrane domain in CpuLPATB in a similar region (FIG. 7B). Based on the analysis of motif and transmembrane domain, the predicted topology of CpuLPATB was presented in FIG. 7C, where all acyltransferase motifs were on the cytosolic side of the ER membrane.

The deduced amino acid sequence alignment of CvLPAT2 with CpuLPAT2a, CpuLPAT2b CpuLPAT2c, and CpuLPAT3 showed the amino acid identities as 82%, 79%, 79% and 66%, respectively, in full amino acid sequences, and 87%, 79%, 79% and 66%, respectively, in LPLAT-AGPAT-like domain. The amino acid identity between CpuLPAT2b and CpuLPAT2c was the highest at 97% in LPLAT-AGPAT-like domain. The key motifs in LPLAT-AGPAT-like domains were conserved well among the LPAT2s in diverse plant species (FIG. 8A). As for Motif I [NH(X)₄D] and motif III (FPEGTR) (SEQ ID NO: 45), the same sequences with LPATTB, were observed in CvLPAT2 and in LPAT2/3 group from C. pulcherrima. Motif II (LPVLGW) (SEQ ID NO: 47) and motif IV (NVLIPRTKGFV) (SEQ ID NO: 48) were conserved in plant LPAT2/3 group, but those sequences were completely different with the LPATB's. There was a putative tyrosine phosphate site in motif V [R(X)₆Y(X)₄A] from CvLPAT2 like the other LPAT2/3 group. Transmembrane domain of CvLAAPT2 was predicted as different numbers by different programs; 4 by SOSUI, 3 by PSORTII and HMMTOP and 5 by TMHMM (FIG. 8B). All programs predicted the N-terminal located in cytosol and C-terminal located in the ER lumen. Therefore, we predicted that there are five transmembrane domains in CvLPAT2 as seen in caster bean and presented the predicted topology of CvLPAT2 in FIG. 8C, where motif I is located in cytosol and motif II-IV is located in the ER lumen by separating the third transmembrane domain.

Example 11—Tissue-Specific Expression of Cuphea LPAT Isoforms

Different LPAT isoforms showed the various expression patterns and levels in the diverse tissues of a plant. Because LPAT has been considered a narrow substrate specificity, tissue specific expression is one of the clues to presume their function. RT-PCR was performed using cDNAs from diverse tissues, such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers and developing seeds, to investigate the tissue specificity and the expression level of LPAT genes in C. pulcherrima and C. viscosissima (FIG. 2). The transcripts of CpuLPAT1 were abundant in all tested tissues except developing seeds. CpuLPAT2b and CpuLPAT3 showed ubiquitous expression patterns with a low expression levels. CpuLPAT2c was undetectable at the same PCR cycle numbers as other LPAT genes, however, when PCR cycle numbers were increased it was slightly detected in all tissues tested. Interestingly, CpuLPAT2a and CvLPAT2, which have very high sequence similarity (82% in amino acid), showed the developing seed-specific expressions. CpuLPATB was also exclusively detected in the developing seeds. These results indicate that CpuLPATB, CpuLPAT2a and CvLPAT2 might be involved in the accumulation of MCFAs at the sn-2 position of TAG.

Example 12—CpuLPATB, CpuLPAT2a, and CvLPAT2 Localize in the ER

The ER localization of LPAT2 was confirmed in Arabidopsis and Brasicca by immunofluorescence microscopy of tapetum cells and by immunoblotting of subcellular fraction. We investigated the subcellular localization of CpuLPAT2a, CpuLPATB, and CvLPAT2 by using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Yellow fluorescence protein (YFP) was fused with C-terminal of each LPAT driven by 35S promoter. Each pro35S:LPAT:YFP was transiently co-expressed with the ER-rk CD3-959 as the ER marker (FIG. 3A-C) in tobacco leaves by agro-infiltration method. YFP signals of CpuLPAT2a, CpuLPATB, and CvLPAT2 were detected as the reticular shape and co-localized with ER marker. The result demonstrated that CpuLPAT2a, CpuLPATB, and CvLPAT2 are microsomal LPAT localized in the ER. We also tested the subcellular localization of CpuLPAT1, which is classified as a plastidal form. YFP signal of CpuLPAT1 was detected in the out membrane of chloroplasts (FIG. 3D).

Example 13—CpuLPATB Complemented the E. coli Mutant, JC201

To test the activities of Cuphea. LPATs, a complementation test was performed in an E. coli JC201 mutant, which is a temperature-sensitive mutant of plsC and able to grow at 30° C., but not at 42° C. The full-length open reading frames of Cuphea LPATs were cloned into the pBluescript SK⁺ vector. FIG. 4A showed that all Cuphea LPATs and an empty vector grew at 30° C. Occasionally the JC201 cells with an empty vector grew at 42° C., and we increased the incubation temperature as 44° C. Only JC201 containing CpuLPATB was able to grow at 44° C., but few colonies were observed in the JC201 containing other LPATs (FIG. 4A). To confirm the result, we tested their growth rate by measuring the ODconcentration in process of time. As seen in FIG. 4B, the cell concentration of JC201 increased in all tested Cuphea LPATs and empty vector control at 30° C. However, only CpuLPATB showed the increase of OD concentration at 44° C. We tested the LPAT activity in the inducible vector, pET-duet, but the results were the same as above, even in the presence or absence of IPTG, Only CpuLPATB complemented the E. coli mutant JC201 a LPAT activity. This result was correlated with the amino acid homology of LPATs between plant and E. coli. CpuLPATB shares the most similar homology with E. coli LPAT (34% in domain).

Example 14—CpuLPATB and CvLPAT2 Preferentially Incorporated 14:0 and 10:0, Respectively, into the Sn-2 Position of TAG

To investigate the activities of Cuphea LPATs in planta and its utility for oilseed metabolic engineering, the CpuLPATB and CvLPAT2 genes were introduced into Camelina along with the variant FatB thioesterase genes. CpFatB2 is 14:0 specific thioesterase of Cuphea palustris (Dehesh et al., 1996, Plant Physiol., 110:203-10) and ChFatB2 is 8:0 and 10:0 specific FatB thioesterase of Cuphea hookeriana (Dehesh et al., 1996, The Plant J., 9:167-72). The seed-specific glycinin promoter was used to drive the CpuLPATB and the seed-specific oleosin promoter was used to drive the CvLPAT2 for exclusive gene expression in seed. Lauric acid-specific CnLPAT was used for a comparison with CpuLPATB and CvLPAT2. The expression of CpFatB2 in Camelina showed 26.3 mol % of 14:0 fatty acid. When CpFatB2 was co-experessed with CnLPAT, CpuLPATB or CvLPAT2, the levels of 14:0 fatty acid were further increased as 33.1 mol %, 36.5 mol % or 32.9 mol %, respectively. The expression of ChFatB2 in Camelina showed 7.4 mol % of 10:0 fatty acid. Co-expression of ChFatB2 with CnLPAT or CvLPAT2 increased the 10:0 fatty acid as 10.2 mol % or 11.8 mol %, respectively. However, CpuLPATB didn't increase the 10:0 fatty acid with ChFatB2 (FIG. 5). The positional distribution of the MCFA was also determined in TAG. Trace amounts of 16:0 and 18:0 were detected at the sn-2 position of TAG in wild type. The composition of MCFA at the sn-2 position of TAG was 2.9 mol % (14:0) and 1.1 mol % (16:0) in CpFatB2 Camelina seeds. Myristic acid the sn-2 position of TAG from CpFatB2 Camelina seeds was significantly increased up to 14.2 mol % with CnLPAT, 19.7 mol % with CpuLPATB, and 14.8 mol % with CvLPAT2 (FIG. 5B). The sn-2 position of TAG in ChFatB2 was not occupied by any MCFA or saturated fatty acid. Co-expression of ChFatB2 with CvLPAT2 resulted in the significant increase of 10:0 (15.4 mol %) at the sn-2 position of TAG. However, 10:0 fatty acid was barely detected in the coexpression line of ChFatB2 and CnLPAT. CpuLPATB didn't effect on the increase of 10:0 fatty acid with ChFatB2 in the transgenic Camelina seeds. These results indicate that CpuLPATB and CvLPAT2 enhance the accumulation of the saturated MCFAs in the TAG of Camelina seed by incorporating medium chain acyl-CoA into the sn-2 position of LPA. CpuLPATB has a preference toward 14:0 fatty acid and CvLPAT2 has a preference toward myristic acid and capric acid.

Example 15—The Distribution of MCFA in TAG Molecular Species

To further investigate the metabolism of MCFA in transgenic Camelina seeds, we performed ESI-MS analysis for the molecular species of TAG from Camelina producing the FatB TE. Absolute peak intensity of mass spectra of TAG species from seeds expressing the FatB TE and LPAT were presented in FIG. 6 and FIG. 10. TAG species with at least one 14:0 represent in plants expressing CpFatB2 with CnLPAT, CpuLPATB, and CvLPAT2, respectively, while any MCFA was not detected in the TAG in wild-type Camelina (FIG. 6). The levels of tri-MCFA-TAG species increased when CpFatB2 expressed with LPATs and the highest amount tri-MCFA-TAG species was observed in CvLPAT2. Tri-MCFA-TAG species in transgenic Camelina seeds confirmed that tested LPATs contain the preference to saturated MCFAs and CvLPAT2 is the best FatB TE for those substrates.

Part B Example 16—Cloning CpDGAT1 Sequence from C. pulcherrima

The CpDGAT1 gene sequence was identified in the C. pulcherrima 454 sequence data generated as described before (Nguyen et al., 2013, Plant Biotechnol. J., 11:759-69). The ORF designated as CpDGAT1 of 1482 bp encoding 484 amino acids was PCR amplified from C. pulcherrima cDNA using the gene specific primers.

For expression in yeast the native version of CpDGAT1 ORF was amplified using the primer pair CpDGAT1BamHIf and CpDGAT1XbaIr. The ORFs for N terminus truncated and mutated versions were generated using the forward primers CpDGAT1trunc_BamHI and CpDGAT1AlaBamHIf, respectively. The ORF for the truncated version (CpDGAT1trunc) of CpDGAT1 is 70 amino acids shorter at N terminus than the native version. The alignment showed that the 70 amino acid N terminus of CpDGAT1 is unique and is different from that of other DGAT1s while the amino acid sequence downstream the 70 amino acids is highly similar to that of DGAT1s from A. thaliana, O. europea, B. napus and O. sativa. The length of the differing N terminus region of the DGAT1s from different plant species varies. In the mutated version the CAT coding for ¹His was replaced by GAG coding for Ala in the forward primer, CpDGAT1AlaBamHIf. Thus three constructs pYes2_CpDGAT1, pYes2_CpDGAT1Ala, and pYes2_CpDGAT1trunc were made for expression in yeast.

For generating plant transformation vectors the ORF encoding for CpDGAT1 and CpDGAT1trunc were subcloned into NotI sites of pKMS3 vector generating Glycinin promoter and terminator containing CpDGAT1 gene cassette. The cassette was subsequently released by AscI to be cloned into MluI site of pBinGlyRed3+CvFatB1 yielding pBinGlyRed3_CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 or pBinGlyRed3_CvFatB1+CpDGAT1trunc. The backbone of the vector is derived from pCAMBIA0380 and was engineered with the DsRed marker gene under the control of the constitutively-expressed cassava mosaic virus promoter for selection of transgenic seeds by fluorescence (Lu and Kang, 2008, Plant Cell Rep., 27:273-8). Similarly, A. thaliana DGAT1 was subcloned into the binary vector generating pBinGlyRed3_CvFatB1+AthDGAT1 for transformation into Camelina.

Example 17—Phylogenetic Analysis

An unrooted phylogenetic tree of CpDGAT1 deduced amino acid sequence along with other amino acid sequences homologous to DGAT1 or DGAT2 including several functionally characterized ones was constructed. The functional and phylogenetic relationships were identified by the neighbor joining program in MEGA4 (Tamura et al., 2007, Mol. Biol. Evol., 24:1596-9). The bootstrap analysis was performed with 1,000 replicates.

Example 18—Yeast Transformation and Selection

The constructs pYes2_CpDGAT1, pYes2_CpDGAT1Ala, and pYes2_CpDGAT1trunc were transformed into S. cerevisiae strain H1246 (W303; MATα are1-Δ::HIS3 are2-Δ::LEU2 dga1::KanMX4 lro1-Δ::TRP1 ADE2 met ura3) (Sandager et al., 2002, J. Biol. Chem., 277:6478-82) using PEG/lithium acetate method (Gietz et al., 1995, Yeast, 11:355-60). The yeast cells harboring the empty pYes2 vector were used as negative control. Transformants were selected by uracil prototrophy on yeast synthetic medium (YSM) containing 2% (w/v) glucose and lacking uracil (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif. USA). For functional expression YSM containing 2% (w/v) raffinose was inoculated with the yeast transformants and grown at 28° C. for 24 h in a shaker at 350 rpm. For induction, YSM containing 2% (w/v) galactose was inoculated with raffinose-grown cultures to obtain an OD of 0.2 at 600 nm and grown at 28° C. for 48 h. For fatty acid feeding experiments cultures were grown for 2.5 hs in YSM containing 2% galactose followed by addition of 1% (w/v) Tergitol-40 and 250 μM of the appropriate fatty acid substrate. Cells were harvested by centrifugation, washed twice with 0.1% NaHCO3, freeze-dried and used for fatty acid, TAG analysis and microsome isolation.

Example 19—Camelina Transformation and Selection

The binary vector containing a cassette for seed specific expression of CpDGAT1, CpDGAT1trunc or AthDGAT1 was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens by electroporation. Transgenic plants were generated by floral dip of Camelina wt plants (Lu and Kang, 2008, Plant Cell Reports, 27:273-8). Transgenic seeds among mature seeds were selected using DsRed marker and were also PCR confirmed. Expression of transgenes in developing seeds was confirmed by RT-PCR.

Example 20—TAG Quantification and FA Profiling

Total lipid extraction by Bligh Dyer: 30 mg of Camelina seeds was weighed in glass test tubes, followed by addition of 270 μl (10 mg/ml) C17-TAG and 50 μl (1 mg/ml) C17-PC. Seeds were crushed in 3 ml methanol: chloroform (2:1 v/v) by grinding with a grinder and incubated for 1 h at room temperature with agitation. Extraction was continued by adding 1 ml of chloroform and 1.9 ml of water to a test tube and vortexed, centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes. The organic (lower) phase was transferred to a new test tube, 400 μl was saved for transesterification. The rest was used for separation of TAG, DAG and Polar lipids using Supelco Supel Clean LC-Si SPE (Sigma) columns. Dried total lipids were redissolved in 1 ml of heptane and loaded onto LC-Si SPE columns equilibrated according to manufacturer's guidelines, once the sample ran through the column first wax esters were eluted with 1.5 ml of 95:5 heptane: ethyl ether, second TAG fraction was eluted with 5 ml of heptane: ethyl ether 80:20 (v/v). DAG was eluted with 3 ml chloroform: acetone 80:20 (v/v). Columns were washed with 6 ml of acetone followed by elution of phospholipids with 5 ml methanol:chloroform:water 100:50:40 (v/v/v). Total phospholipids were pooled with addition of 1.33 ml chloroform and 1.31 ml water followed by vortexing and centrifugation at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes. The organic phase containing total phospholipids was transferred into a new tube.

600 μl of polar lipid fraction was dried and transesterified the rest was redessolved in 100 μl chloroform and separated by TLC in a solvent system consisting of CHCl3:MeOH:H2O:30% ammonium hydroxide (65:35:3:2.5 v/v/v/v). Bands from the TLC plates corresponding to PC were scraped onto wax paper and transferred to 13×100 mm test tubes. Transesterification of total lipids, TAG, and phospholipid fractions was done in 1 ml of 2% sulphuric acid in methanol by heating at 90° C. for 30 min. Upon cooling the samples to room temperature 1 ml H₂O and 1 ml heptane was added followed by vortexing and centrifuging. Heptane layer was transferred to GC vials and analyzed in GC.

Example 21—Isolation of C. pulcherrima DGAT1 and DGAT2 Genes

Potential genes identified as DGATs were blasted against A. thaliana gene database in TAIR BLAST 2.2.8. The blast identified one gene model highly similar to A. thaliana DGAT1 thus named CpDGAT1. In addition three genes two of which are similar to R. communis, V. fordii DGAT2 were identified and designated as CpDGAT2_A and CpDGAT2_C, the third one is similar to A. thaliana DGAT2 and was named CpDGAT2_B. The ORF of CpDGAT1 is 1482 bp encoding a 484 amino acid polypeptide (Altschul et al., 1997, Nucl. Acids Res., 25:3389-402). Homology search blast analysis of 484 deduced amino acid showed it being most identical, 59 and 54%, to functionally characterized DGAT1s from A. thaliana and B. napus, respectively, while it shares ˜39% identity with mammalian DGAT1s (FIG. 11). The N terminus 78 amino acids has no sequence homology in other known homologous DGAT1s (FIG. 12), the hydrophilic N-terminus of 151 and 80 residues in plants and animals, respectively, were found to be unique for every DGAT1. Nevertheless, the rest is highly conserved and identical to DGAT1s from plant species such as A. thaliana, B. napus, R. communis and O. sativa (FIG. 12). The SOSUI secondary structure prediction program predicted ten transmembrane regions in CpDGAT1. Similarly 8-10 hydrophobic regions were identified in DGAT1s of different origins (Liu et al., 2012, Plant Biotechnol. J., 10:862-70). The average number of residues is higher for DGAT1s than that of DGAT2s corresponding to 20 kDa difference in molecular mass. Expression of CpDGAT1 in H1246 mutant, which contains disruptions of four acyltransferase genes that contribute to TAG synthesis, did not store TAG biosynthesis to the S. cerevisiae while AthDGAT1 expressing H1246 yeast cells make TAG. Expression of codon optimized CpDGAT1 in H1246 yeast cells did not lead to any differences. Similarly, DGAT assay using radiolabelled 10:0 and DAG 10:0/10:0 substrates with microsomes from CpDGAT1 expressing yeast cells did not result in formation of TAG.

Example 22—Tissue-Specific Expression of C. pulcherrima DGATs

Expression profile of CpDGAT1, CpDGAT2_A, CpDGAT2_B and CpDGAT2_C in root, stem, leaf, flower and developing seeds of C. pulcherrima was analyzed (FIG. 13). The transcript abundance of the genes was normalized to that of C. pulcherrima eukaryotic initiation factor and actin (CpeIF4 and CpActin) genes. It was found that CpDGAT1 is specifically expressed in developing seeds. The three C. pulcherrima DGAT2 genes expression was observed in all tissues, stronger expression of CpDGAT2_A, CpDGAT2_B can be seen in developing seeds while CpDGAT2_C is expressed at similar levels in all tissues analyzed.

Example 23—Seed-Specific Expression of CpDGAT1 and CvLPAT2 Enhances Decanoic Acid and Caprylic Acid Content in Camelina sativa Seeds

CpDGAT1 was expressed under seed specific glycinin-1 promoter along with the C. viscosissima thioesterase (CvFatB1), known to be specific for C10:0, C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0 Acyl-ACP. CvLPAT2 the ORF of 1155 bp was amplified from a cDNA prepared from total RNA from C. viscosissima from developing seeds. It was cloned into pBinGlyred vector under glycinin-1 promoter.

Analysis of seeds from T2 plants of 24 independent lines expressing CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1, as confirmed by reverse-transcription PCR, showed increased amounts of 10:0 (FIGS. 14 and 15). The 10:0 fatty acid levels in transgenic CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 T2 seeds reached as high as 13.5 and 21.5 mol % of TFA as compared to 8.0 mol % in lines expressing only CvFatB1, while that of C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0 stayed similar (FIGS. 14 and 15). Significant decrease in the amounts of 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 by 10, 18 and 6 mol %, respectively, was seen in all CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 transgenic lines. The oil content in seeds from T3 homozygous transgenic lines from CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 (FIG. 14) and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 (FIG. 15), which had the highest amounts of 10:0, was not significantly affected. In addition to C10:0, 3 to 5 mol % of C8:0 was detected in TAG in the seeds engineered to express CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1.

Example 24—Enhanced Amounts of C8:0 and C10:0 are Detected at Sn-2 Position of TAG from Seeds of Transgenic Camelina Lines Expressing CvLPAT2 or/and CpDGAT1

Stereospecific analysis of fatty acid species at sn-2 position of TAG from engineered seeds was conducted to assess the efficiency of assembly of short and medium chain fatty acids in TAG. Fatty acid profile of sn-2 monoacylglycerol obtained by digesting with TAG sn-1 and sn-3 specific lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Sigma) revealed that while trace amounts of 10:0 is seen at sn-2 position of TAG from seeds of CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 lines, there is a striking increase up to 20 mol % in CvFatB1+CvLPAT2 line and 33.1 mol % in the relative content of 10:0 at sn-2 of TAG from CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 line was observed (FIG. 17). In addition to C10:0, 3 to 5 mol % of C8:0 was detected in TAG sn-2 position in the seeds engineered to express CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1.

The increase of 10:0 at the sn-2 position of TAG from CvFatB1 expressing lines is accompanied by reduction of 18:2 and significantly that of 18:3 which is 17.4 mol % as compared to 44.3 mol % at this position in TAG from Wt camelina seeds. In C. pulcherrima fatty acid species at sn-2 position of TAG are 8:0 (up to 97 mol %) and C10:0 (3 mol %) while in C. viscosissima it is 12.6 mol % of C8:0 and 87.4 mol % of 10:0 (FIG. 17).

Example 25—DAG Species from C. sativa Transgenic Lines Overexpressing Cuphea Species Acyltransferases Contain Increased Amounts of Shorter Chain Saturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acid profile of DAG species from the transgenic lines was analyzed (FIG. 18). The data showed higher amounts of C10:0 and C16:0 fatty acids in lines expressing the Cuphea acyltransferases CvLPAT2 and CpDGAT1 in addition to the thioesterase, CvFatB1. The seeds of CvFatB1 expressing lines contain ˜4 mol % of C10:0, ˜12 mol % of C16:0, while that of CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2 contain up to 8 mol % of C10:0, 3 mol % of C14:0 and 20 mol % of C16:0. DAG species from CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 contain highest amount of C10:0 up to 14 mol %. The increase in the amounts of short and medium chain fatty acids in DAG species is accompanied by substantial decrease of 18:3. DAGs from developing seeds of C. viscosissima contain up to 12, 53, 8 and 32 mol % of C8:0, C10:0, C14:0 and C16:0, respectively.

Example 26—Accumulation of Short- and Medium-Chain Fatty Acids in Transgenic Camelina Lines Starts at Midstage in Developing Seeds

Fatty acid composition of developing seeds from transgenic Camelina lines were analyzed at four stages after flowering: 10 DAF, 17 DAF, 22DAF and 30 DAF. Ten day developing seeds contain very low 10:0 (˜2.5 mol %), main fatty acids are 16:0 (˜14 mol %), 18:1 (20 mol %), 18:2 (40-44 mol %), and 18:3 (18-20 mol %), the predominant one. The percent share of each fatty acid (C16:0 through 20:1) in TFA in transgenic lines is similar to that of wild type Camelina plants. 17 day seeds produce more of shorter chain fatty acids 8:0 (4 mol %), 10:0 (up to 24 mol %), 12:0 (2.5-4 mol %), 14:0 (3 mol %) and higher amounts of 16:0 (13 mol %) in transgenic lines. In CvFatB1+CvLpat2+CpDGAT1 the amount of 18:1 decreases, while 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 make 15 mol %, 16 mol % and 6 mol %, respectively, as compared to 21.4, 30 and 12.7 mol % in wild type Camelina plants.

22 day seeds produce more of short chain fatty acids 5 mol % C8:0, 30 mol % 10:0, 7 mol % (12:0-14:0). The amounts of 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 in CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 line are 12, 8, 12, 16, and 5 mol % as compared to 8, 13, 20, 41, and 10 mol % in seeds of wild type plants. Thus the share of 8:0 through 16:0 fatty acids total amount in this line reaches 54 mol % of TFA as compared to 39 mol % in CvFatB1 line, 43% in CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 line and 8 mol % in wild type.

In 30 days in seeds from CvFatB1 line there is 33.6 mol % of 8:0-16:0, 22.4 mol % 18:1, 13.7 mol % 18:2, 16.0 mol % 18:3 and 6.6 mol % 20:1. CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 transgenic lines accumulate more 10:0, and 8:0-10:0 total fatty acids amount is 37.5 mol % while amounts of 18:1, 18:2, 18:3 and 20:1 are similar to what is found in seeds from CvFatB1 line. In CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 line the average share of 8:0-16:0 fatty acids is 43 mol % of TFA, 18.5 mol % being 10:0 and 13.2 mol % 18:1, 12.8 mol % 18:2, 18.3 mol % 18:3, 6.3 mol % 20:1.

As seeds develop oil content increases in both wild type and transgenic Camelina lines. Major oil accumulation started in 17 days at which oil content doubled 26.5% as compared to 13% of dry weight in 10 days, followed by 33.4% and 28%, after 22 and 30 days, respectively, in wild type. In CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 lines average oil content was 13%, 26%, 30% and 22.7%, as compared to thioesterase only expressing lines 11.8, 23.0, 24.6, and 23.4%, in 10, 17, 22 and 30 days, respectively.

Example 27—CpDGAT1 has Preference for 10:0 Containing Substrates and Decanoyl CoA

Substrate preferences of CpDGAT1 were tested using extracts from 22 day developing seeds of CvFATB1, CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 (FIG. 20). Acyl-CoA dependent DGAT activity was examined by measuring the incorporation of [¹⁴C] acyl-CoA into DAG acceptors 10:0/10:0 (1,2-didecanoyl-sn-glycerol) or 18:1/18:1 (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol). In seed extracts of CpDGAT1 expressing lines TAG formation from 1,2-DAG 10:0/10:0 and 10:0-CoA was enhanced. DGAT activity with 1,2-DAG 10:0/10:0 and 10:0-CoA was similar 80.6±4.1 and 63.6±23.4 pmol TAG/min/g protein in Wt and CvFatB1 expressing line, respectively. In CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 lines the activity was 346±77.5 and 323±57.9 pmol TAG/min/g protein, respectively.

Example 28—Germination Efficiency of Short- and Medium-Chain Fatty Acid Rich Transgenic Camelina Seeds

High levels of short and medium chain fatty acids did not affect average seed weight observed for transgenic seeds obtained in greenhouse conditions (FIG. 20). The weight of 100 seeds from wild type Camelina was 79 mg, 74 mg for CvFatB1, 71 and 77 mg for CvFatB1+CpDGAT1, and CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 lines, respectively.

Germination efficiency of homozygous 10:0-16:0 rich transgenic Camelina seeds was not significantly affected by high levels of 10:0 or increased amounts of 16:0 (FIG. 22). Up to 93% of seeds from CvFatB1 line germinated in 10 days in greenhouse conditions, for CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 it was 78% and 97% for CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1, which contains highest amounts of short and medium chain fatty acids.

Example 29—Seed-Specific Expression of CpDGAT1 and CvLPAT2a Further Enhances Decanoic Acid Content in Camelina sativa Seeds

CpDGAT1 was expressed under seed specific glycinin-1 promoter along with the C. viscosissima thioesterase (CvFatB1), known to be specific for C8:0 and C10:0 Acyl-ACP. The CpuPAT2a ORF of 1164 bp was amplified from cDNA prepared from total RNA from C. pulcherrima developing seeds and was sub-cloned into pKMS3 vector under glycinin-1 promoters. A cassette comprising the glycinin-1 promoter and CpuLPAT2a gene was inserted into the pBinGlyRed-CvFatB1+CpDGAT1 to make the pBinGlyRed-CvFatB1+CpuLPAT2a+CpDGAT1.

Analysis of seeds from T2 lines expressing CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 and T3 lines expressing CvFatB1+CpuLPAT2a+CpDGAT1 showed increased amounts of 10:0 in TAG (FIGS. 16 and 24). The 10:0 fatty acid levels in transgenic CvFatB1+CvLPAT2a+CpDGAT1 T3 seeds reached as high as 18.5 and 27 mol % of TAG TFA as compared to 8.0 mol % in lines expressing only CvFatB1, while that of C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 stayed similar (FIGS. 16 and 24). The oil content in seeds from T3 transgenic lines from CvFatB1+CvLPAT2a+CpDGAT1 (7,11), which had high amounts of 10:0, was not significantly affected (FIG. 24A). The amount of C10:0 is even higher in seeds of Camelina lines expressing CpuLPAT2a in addition to CvFatB1 and CpDGAT1 (CvFatB1+CpuLPAT2a+CpDGAT1). Fatty acid profile of sn-2 monoacylglycerol obtained by digesting with TAG sn-1 and sn-3 specific lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Sigma) indicated a significant increase in 10:0 at sn-2 position of TAG from seeds of both CvFatB1+CvLPAT2+CpDGAT1 (FIG. 17) and CvFatB1+CpuLPAT2a+CpDGAT1 (FIG. 24B) lines. It is notable also that 8:0 was detected in amounts of ˜3 mol % in the total TAG and in the TAG sn-2 position in seeds engineered to express CvFatB1+CvLPAT2CpuLPAT2a+CpDGAT1.

TABLE 1 Primers used for cloning CpDGAT1 and AthDGAT1 into yeast and Camelina expression vectors C. pulcherrima primers used for expression in yeast and Camelina CpDGAT1BamHIf CTAGGATCCAccATGgctCATGAGGCAGTCAG HisBamHI (SEQ ID NO: 49) CpDGAT1AlaBamHIf CTAGGATCCAccATGgctGAGGCAGTCAGC BamHI (SEQ ID NO: 50) CpDgat1trunc_BamH1f GTCGGATCCAccATGGCTCACCGGACTTCA BamHI (SEQ ID NO: 51) CpDGAT1XbaIr ATATCTAGACTAGTCGATCCTTAATCCTC XbaIr (SEQ ID NO: 52) CpDG1not1F ATAgcggccgcATGCATGAGGCAGTCAG BamH1 (SEQ ID NO: 53) CpDg1trF_Not1 ATAgcggccgcATGGCTCACCGGACTTCA NotI (SEQ ID NO: 54) CpDg1R_Not1 AATGCGGCCGCCTAGTCGATCCTTAAT NotI (SEQ ID NO: 55)

TABLE 2 Primers used for SQRT-PCR of CpDGAT1, CpDGAT2_A, CpDGAT2_B, and CpDGAT2_C Primer sequence 5′-3′ Amplicon Gene name Primer name Forward/Reverse size (bp) CpDGAT1 SQCpDG1f CTTCAATCTCTGTATGGTCACTCTC 298 (SEQ ID NO: 66)/ SQCpDG1r GACATCAAGGCACAATCAAATCTC (SEQ ID NO: 67) CpDGAT2_A Cp1DGsqf GGAGATTCGCGAGGAGCTTAAGTAGG 347 (SEQ ID NO: 68)/ Cp1DGsqr CATATGGAATGTCTCCTGCACACCAC (SEQ ID NO: 69) CpDGAT2_B CPDG2_2 sqF GAGCGAGATGCTGAGATTGTGTTCCT 308 (SEQ ID NO: 70)/ CPDG2_2 sqR TCACTGTGCACCTCATTCACCTCTTC (SEQ ID NO: 71) CpDGAT2 _C CpDG2_3hinsq_F TGGTGTGCAGGAGACATTCTACATGG/ 381 (SEQ ID NO: 72) CpDG2_3xbsq_R ACTTGTGCCTTGTGTCGCTCGAATAG (SEQ ID NO: 73) CpActin CpACTf TTGCTTTGGACTACGAGCAGGAGA/ 189 (SEQ ID NO: 74) CpACTr TGGAGTTGTAAGTCGTCTCGTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 75) CpeIF4 CpeIF4_RT_F GGTGAAGCGTGACGAACTGAC/ 140 (SEQ ID NO: 76) CpeIF4_RT_R CTCTAGTGTTCTGGTCCATGTCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 77) Primers used for expression of CpDGAT2 genes in yeast Cpdg1 CTAGGATCCAccATGCGGGAGGAGACGAA BamHI (SEQ ID NO: 56) Cpdg2 atatctagaTCAAAGGATTCTCAGTTTGA XbaI (SEQ ID NO: 57) Cpdg3 CTAGGATCCAccATGATAGGGTTCaATGA BamHI (SEQ ID NO: 58) Cpdg4 atatctagaTCACAAAATTCTCAGTTCGA XbaI (SEQ ID NO: 59) Cpdg5 ctaAAGCTTAccATGGGAGAGGAGGCGGAC HindIII (SEQ ID NO: 60) Cpdg6 atactcgagTTAAAGTATTCTCAGTTTGA XhoI (SEQ ID NO: 61) A. thaliana DGAT1 primers used for cloning into yeast and Camelina transformation AthBamHIDGAT1F CTAGGATCCAccATGGCGATTTTGGATTC BamHI (SEQ ID NO: 62) AthXbaIDGAT1R ATATCTAGATCATGACATCGATCCTTTTC XbaI (SEQ ID NO: 63) AthNotIf ATAgcggccgcATGGCGATTTTGGATT NotIf (SEQ ID NO: 64) AthNotIr

NotIr (SEQ ID NO: 65)

It is to be understood that, while the methods and compositions of matter have been described herein in conjunction with a number of different aspects, the foregoing description of the various aspects is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the methods and compositions of matter. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.

Disclosed are methods and compositions that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can be used in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods and compositions. These and other materials are disclosed herein, and it is understood that combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these methods and compositions are disclosed. That is, while specific reference to each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these compositions and methods may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if a particular composition of matter or a particular method is disclosed and discussed and a number of compositions or methods are discussed, each and every combination and permutation of the compositions and the methods are specifically contemplated unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also specifically contemplated and disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing triacylglycerols (TAGs) comprising medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in an organism, said method comprising: introducing a first transgene into the organism, wherein the first transgene comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) that exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the LPAT has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3; and introducing a second transgene into the organism, wherein the second transgene comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) that exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the DGAT has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO: 9, thereby producing TAGs comprising MCFAs in the organism, wherein the organism is a plant or a microbe.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least 20% of the TAGs comprising MCFAs have a C8:0 or a C10:0 at sn-2 position.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the saturated fatty acids are selected from the group consisting of C8:0 and C10:0.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the LPAT is a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the DGAT is a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:7.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the organism further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA)-specific thioesterase FatB.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the MCFA-specific thioesterase FatB is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:11, a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:13, and a nucleic acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:15.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the organism is a plant, and wherein the plant is Camelina sativa.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transgene and the second transgene each comprises a promoter.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the organism is a plant, and wherein each promoter is a seed-specific promoter.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a LPAT is operably linked to a seed-specific promoter, and wherein the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a DGAT is operably linked to a seed-specific promoter.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the medium-chain fatty acids are produced in the seed.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the introducing step is performed using Agrobacterium transformation, particle bombardment, or electroporation of protoplasts.
 14. A method of producing triacylglycerols (TAGs) comprising medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), comprising: providing an organism comprising a first and a second transgene, wherein the organism is a plant or a microbe, wherein the first transgene comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) that exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the LPAT has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the second transgene comprises at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) that exhibits a substrate specificity for saturated fatty acids, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the DGAT has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:9; growing the organism under appropriate conditions; and obtaining TAGs comprising MCFAs from the organism.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the TAGs are used in biofuel, jet fuel, detergents, and chemical feedstocks. 